Lawmakers battle in the final hours to avert government shutdown

WASHINGTON – Congress is barreling toward yet another deadline to keep the federal government up and running.

Funding is slated to run out by late Friday evening and without a temporary budget deal, the government will shut down, triggering a disruption to many federal operations and services, including military pay and programs.

As of Thursday afternoon, lawmakers were struggling to reach a bipartisan deal.

“Risks are increasing substantially for a government shutdown, as it’s not clear who has the leverage or how to get to the votes on a short-term continuing resolution,” said Lauren Fish, a defense strategies research associate for the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank. “Everyone thinks someone else will be left taking the blame for a shutdown, so political expediency is increasing the risks.”

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